01.06.2026 20:20
National Football Team Head Coach Vincenzo Montella spoke before the match against North Macedonia, stating that they experienced an emotional and difficult process when determining the final squad for the World Cup.
National Football Team Head Coach Vincenzo Montella made statements ahead of the match against North Macedonia in Istanbul as part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup preparations.
"A VERY IMPORTANT MATCH"
Montella, emphasizing the importance of the match, said, "Actually, it is a very important match. You represent a country, so there is no concept of a friendly match for us. We want to evaluate our players who get less playing time at their clubs here. At the same time, we want to protect our players who have minor injuries. We want to evaluate all our players. Today, you might see a different starting eleven."
"IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT DAY FOR ME"
Speaking about the World Cup squad, the Italian coach stated that the final list would be announced before the match ends, saying, "The World Cup squad will be announced before the match ends. We will give the final list. Honestly, everyone deserves to be included. That is why it was a very difficult day for me. It was a day of sadness. I feel emotional when making my final decisions. It's also hard for the players. It happened to me as a player. Of course, the decision we make will be for the best of our National Team. You know we need to be respectful. Our players are extremely professional and have this awareness. It was a duty where we also had responsibilities. So it was a sad and exhausting day."